Cheadle making Miles Davis movie in Cincinnati

May 15, 2014

CINCINNATI (AP) - A movie about the life of jazz pioneer Miles Davis featuring Don Cheadle will film in Cincinnati this summer, a film commission said Monday.

The Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Film Commission announced the filming plans for the biopic. Veteran actor Cheadle, of Showtime's "House of Lies" and movies including "Crash," ''Hotel Rwanda," and "Iron Man 3," will star, along with Ewan McGregor and Zoe Saldana. Cheadle is also a producer, and wrote the "Miles Ahead" screenplay with Steven Baigelman.

Cheadle has been trying to get the Davis movie made for years. The innovative jazz musician died in 1991 at age 65.

Article Photos

CHEADLE AS DAVIS – Don Cheadle arrives at the VIP Pre-Fight Party for the One: Mayweather vs. Canelo Fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in September. The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission announced the plans for the Miles Davis biopic “Miles Ahead” starring Cheadle are to start filming in Cincinnati this summer. — Associated Press

"We look forward to exploring the culture, musicians and backdrop of this city," Cheadle said in a statement. "We are hoping to work closely with the community to bring this project to the screen."

The commission said production offices are opening in mid-May, and jazz musicians, crew workers and prospective extras are being sought.

Ohio's movie business has been boosted in recent years by state tax incentives. The drama "Carol" starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara recently became the latest to film in the Cincinnati region, which also hosted 2011's "The Ides of March," a political thriller starring George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Producer Pamela Hirsch credited the film commission, the state incentive and other factors in choosing Cincinnati for filming.

"This is what we set out to do: create a production ecosystem in Greater Cincinnati that not only impacts our workforce and economy, but also enhances our culture and community," said Kristen Erwin Schlotman, the film commission's executive director.